rickets

Everyday

A disease in children that makes bones soft and weak, so legs can bend, usually caused by not getting enough vitamin D, sunlight or calcium. tree →

In the lessons

In health and history lessons rickets shows why vitamin D and sunlight matter; it was common in smoky Victorian cities and is now rare but can still happen. Phrases: suffer from rickets, prevent rickets.

Examples

• Rickets makes children's bones bend. tree →
• Victorian children in dark, smoky cities often had rickets. tree →
• Sunlight helps your skin make vitamin D, which prevents rickets. tree →
• Fish, eggs and fortified milk help stop rickets. tree →
• The doctor said rickets is rare today but still happens. tree →
• Cod liver oil was given to children to prevent rickets. tree →

Note

Ends in -s but is not a plural: rickets is a disease (not a ricket). Doctors use it for children; the adult illness is called osteomalacia.